Ms. Marvel #17 [Serious Spoilers]

I still can't stand the covers with those creepy, creepy blank eyes.

The MODOK storyline continues in this issue. MODOK is one of Marvel's Silver Age oddities, on whose goofiness was apparent more in design than in execution. And here we learn that MODOK is even more evil than previously imagined--he is (or was) a deadbeat dad. Sean--who has been his caretaker/controller in recent issues--is his son, and this is his plan to wreak his revenge on the father who abandoned him. Well, that was the plan. In reality, MODOK knew all along that Sean was his son, and went along with it for his own reasons, whatever those were.

MODOK disappears midway through the issue, no doubt to return at some point when a comic is in need of the awesomeness of MODOK.

Sean is killed but is revived by AIM scientists in a new and disgusting form (like father, like son), guess we'll see more of him next issue.

Carol's team is in pieces, some are injured or dead.

And as for Ms. Marvel herself, it's not a good time to be Carol. The main issue has to do with those little voices she first heard a few issues ago, when she and Arana were battling the...oh, whatever they were, I'm not where my comics are to check right now :). They're back, and what they apparently do is make sure that Carol remains in good health and sticks to her genetic code--at least that's when we've seen them show up, at times when Carol has been threatened by change on that level.

But she is also dealing with a number of personal issues. She doesn't go to visit Locke, badly injured member of her team, rationalizing that "I don't think she'd be happy to see me." That's avoidance. It's understandable, but she's team leader--it's her responsibility (at least ethically) to do that, and she doesn't.

And speaking of avoidance, as far as I can tell she never did talk to Simon about that kiss (when she kissed him in order to break him out of that murderous rage thing) despite knowing that he, her friend, felt it was important. He has an interest in her, she knows it, she doesn't want to deal with it. In this issue she "subtly" suggests he take some time off, away from the minicarrier (and her). He gets the message, but it wasn't the kindest way to treat someone she has known and worked with and been friends with for many years.

Overall, a good issue with quite a bit to it.